If I kill someone deliberately, it's murder. When the state does it, it's 'justice'.If I take money using the coercive threat of violence, it's theft. When the state does it, it's 'taxation'.If I print money, it's counterfeiting. When the state does it, it's 'quantitative easing'.If I obtain something under false pretense, it's fraud. When the state does it, it's an 'election manifesto'.If I put other people's money into an investment I know they'll never see a return on, it's called betrayal. When the state does it, it's a 'bail-out'.If I spend twice what I earn, I'm financially irresponsible. When the state does it, it's...I'm not actually sure. They don't answer to their decision to sell the future to fund the present.

Justwatching wrote:If I kill someone deliberately, it's murder. When the state does it, it's 'justice'.If I take money using the coercive threat of violence, it's theft. When the state does it, it's 'taxation'.If I print money, it's counterfeiting. When the state does it, it's 'quantitative easing'.If I obtain something under false pretense, it's fraud. When the state does it, it's an 'election manifesto'.If I put other people's money into an investment I know they'll never see a return on, it's called betrayal. When the state does it, it's a 'bail-out'.If I spend twice what I earn, I'm financially irresponsible. When the state does it, it's...I'm not actually sure. They don't answer to their decision to sell the future to fund the present.

Anyone else unimpressed by political double speak?

My loathe for the state goes far beyond this, but it's a start.

haha yup! I'm behind you all the way on this one! I linked a tax poem here previously as well, but I'll post it here nevertheless. It's depressing reading, but it's good to know nevertheless.

Tax Poem

Tax his land,Tax his bed,Tax the tableAt which he's fed.

Tax his tractor,Tax his mule,Teach him taxesAre the rule.

Tax his work,Tax his pay,He works for peanutsAnyway!

Tax his cow,Tax his goat,Tax his pants,Tax his coat.

Tax his ties,Tax his shirt,Tax his work,Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,Tax his drink,Tax him if heTries to think.

Tax his cigars,Tax his beers,If he criesTax his tears.

Tax his car,Tax his gas,Find other waysTo tax his ---.

Tax all he hasThen let him knowThat you won't be doneTill he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers,Then tax him some more,Tax him tillHe's good and sore.

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.

We had absolutely no national debt, had the largestmiddleclass in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What happened? what is the Etymology of the word "politics"Poly - manyTics - Blood sucking creatures

I believe there's two fundamental problems with our current system; over legislation, and over taxation. Over legislation kills businesses because it ends up meaning they have to follow impossible rules, and over-taxation kills the business's income.

Over legislation/regulation is indeed a huge problem (if you value liberty, that is). 1984 might have been exaggerated for dramatic effect, but the story of a draconian nanny state is reality not fiction. Makes me laugh when people say we live in a free country.

I would add Fiat currency and fractional-reserve banking to the list of fundamental problems, too.

As for taxation, it is a problem, but more a symptom. Even with a tax on everything the government still can't balance their finances. Why? Because running a socialist welfare state is astronomically expensive (as is invading other countries). Socialist fiscal policy wasn't forced onto the public though, was it. Nope, the public got what they voted for (they just don't want to pay for it, you see, that's how socialism works). So, now I arrive at (arguably) the biggest problem - the public - a band of people about as switched-on as a brain damaged snail. Politicians bribe the public with nice shiny things to pacify them and buy their vote. 'Free' this, more funding for that...nobody asks where the money's coming from though. The political decision making process is broken - it revolves around what is popular at the expense of what is logical and responsible.